Acer palmatum ap-1-1

The maple needs a substrate that is always moist. Water regularly, but leave the root ball to dry out slightly between waterings to avoid over-watering. In spring/summer, water regularly - every day in warm weather! In winter, on the other hand, water as the soil warms up. Thanks to the rain and cold, you won't necessarily need to water regularly, as the substrate will remain moist. 

Important: Don't hesitate to water the entire root ball right down to the roots; the water will drain out through the holes in the underside of the pot, or bathe the bonsai in water (bassinage) for a few minutes, to make sure you water it properly. We advise against putting a dish/container under the pot, as the water will stagnate and may cause the roots to rot (too much water = asphyxiation).

The maple likes fresh soil with a good proportion of organic matter. In the nursery, we use agricultural compost made up of black peat, blond peat, aged eco, topsoil, horse manure and pozzolan. At the next repotting, which takes place every 2/3 years at the beginning of March, you can mix in a more draining substrate such as akadama, pumice, kiryu, etc. Just be careful not to disturb the roots, and don't destroy the entire root ball. 

Use a substrate that will both drain your soil to eliminate excess water and retain it in the event of drought. However, avoid soils that are too draining and made up solely of pumice or pozzolan, as they don't retain enough moisture. 

Many bonsai trees react badly to being repotted at the wrong time or too drastically.

Shoots and branches can be pruned all year round. Strong branches should be pruned in autumn to avoid excessive sap loss, or in summer. 

In the nursery, we use NPK 12 12 17 blue fertiliser for tomatoes and flowers. You can use it and put a handful (small or large depending on the size of the pot) on the substrate from May to October, every 2 months, alternating chemical/organic.